Indicators should be consistent with objectives (or goals and targets). These objectives are influenced by values and risks that matter to people in their livelihoods.

The articulation of values and risks precedes the definition of a balanced set of goals and targets.
With goals and targets given, the indicators used for measuring them must also be consistent with decision variables (controllability) in order for them to be useful in planning for development and change.

For each socio-technical level in society, as identified in social architecture (first column), values and risks could be defined in relation to stocks and flows of the resources described in the Entity Dictionary.

Shared values

Freedom

Men and women have the right to live their lives and raise their children in dignity, free from hunger and from the fear of violence, oppression or injustice. Democratic and participatory governance based on the will of the people best assures these rights.1

Equality

No individual and no nation must be denied the opportunity to benefit from development. The equal rights and opportunities of women and men must be assured.2

Solidarity

Global challenges must be managed in a way that distributes the costs and burdens fairly in accordance with basic principles of equity and social justice. Those who suffer or who benefit least deserve help from those who benefit most.3

Tolerance

Human beings must respect one other, in all their diversity of belief, culture and language. Differences within and between societies should be neither feared nor repressed, but cherished as a precious asset of humanity. A culture of peace and dialogue among all civilizations should be actively promoted.4

Respect for nature

Prudence must be shown in the management of all living species and natural resources, in accordance with the precepts of sustainable development. Only in this way can the immeasurable riches provided to us by nature be preserved and passed on to our descendants. The current unsustainable patterns of production and consumption must be changed in the interest of our future welfare and that of our descendants.5

Shared responsibility

Responsibility for managing worldwide economic and social development, as well as threats to international peace and security, must be shared among the nations of the world and should be exercised multilaterally. As the most universal and most representative organization in the world, the United Nations must play the central role.6

Respect for Cultural Heritage and Mother Tongue

Writing February 2011, when Wikipedia celebrated its 10th anniversary, the Wikipedia-Manx indicator reveals the global level of consolidation of, and access to these resources.

Shared Risks

Some risks are shared by all in a community, at various possible scales: